American consumers often wonder if it is okay to buy a prescription drug from an international Canadian pharmacy and bring it back to the United States. The reason for doing so is straightforward, especially at a time when the cost of health care is increasing in the United States.
- Brand-name drug cost usually less overseas.
- In other countries, some drugs are available but not in the U.S.
- Most prescription medicines do not need to be distributed overseas.
Given this legal barrier, most Americans are still willing to take the risk, especially when they don’t have to choose between renting and having the drugs they might need urgently. There are four things you should know if you are going to buy a prescription drug from a Canadian pharmacy for this purpose:
What is Personal Importation and Re-Importation?
The U.S. regulatory body describes personal importation as the act of introducing a prescription drug into the U.S. for personal use from another country. Re-importation is the process of importing and bringing back into the U.S. a product made in the U.S. All activities are contrary to the law. However, it applies to any medication, if it is licensed or not.
When Importation is allowed?
While the U.S. regulatory body is incredibly strict about bringing drugs to the U.S. for selling or retail sales, it is less restrictive with consumers doing the same for their own private use. These include:
- If a medication is not yet licensed in the U.S. but is recommended for a serious condition for which there is no alternative at home.
- When the quantity purchased is no more than a three-month supply.
- When the drug is notified as customs with the right prescription and paperwork.
How to deal with US customs?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection are responsible for ensuring the effective detection and removal of illegal goods when they enter the border.
If you decide to bring back a three-month supply of private use drugs, this is what you need to do to prepare for:
- Make sure you report your medicines. If you don’t and the customs officer finds out, you might get significant fines.
- If a shipment of a drug is illegal, the US regulatory body will confiscate it and set aside for analysis to decide whether the products meet the legal import criteria. If not, they will be destroyed.
- Prescription drugs should be kept together with a copy of the original prescription in their original bottles.
Purchasing drugs from an online Canadian pharmacy
Buying prescription medications from an online Canadian pharmacy overseas can save you money, but it can end up costing you more if the company is disreputable. Getting a website that looks great should never be considered a sign that a supplier is either legal or trustworthy. You should ensure that the website has been approved by sites such as the Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) or Pharmacy Checker and so on.
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